Mitterand's Son Released from Custody
The eldest son of late French President Francois Mitterrand was released from police custody today after being questioned in a money-laundering probe.
Jean-Christophe Mitterrand was held overnight for questioning and released without any charges filed, said his lawyer Marc Giommoni.
Officials asked him about one of his business endeavours, a fish-processing plant in Mauritania. Mitterrand denied any financial wrongdoing, his lawyer said.
Mitterrand, who served as counsellor on African affairs from 1986-92 under his father, has been investigated by French authorities for several years for his alleged role in illicit weapons sales to Angola.
In March, officials in France opened a money laundering inquiry into Mitterrand’s role at the plant, which he partly owned. The investigating magistrate, Philippe Courroye, is the same one studying the illicit weapons sales.
Officials have said they are looking into whether the cash to fund the plant came from illicit commissions allegedly given to Mitterrand by billionaire businessman Pierre Falcone, the central figure in the arms trafficking investigation.
That investigation centres on the sale of £300 million in illegal arms to Angola. Mitterrand is alleged to have received more than £1million between 1993 and 1998 – in the midst of Angola’s civil war – from Falcone, who allegedly acted as a weapons purchaser for the Angolan armed forces.
Mitterrand has denied any illegal role in the affair.
- PA News
The eldest son of late French President Francois Mitterrand was released from police custody today after being questioned in a money-laundering probe.
Jean-Christophe Mitterrand was held overnight for questioning and released without any charges filed, said his lawyer Marc Giommoni.
Officials asked him about one of his business endeavours, a fish-processing plant in Mauritania. Mitterrand denied any financial wrongdoing, his lawyer said.
Mitterrand, who served as counsellor on African affairs from 1986-92 under his father, has been investigated by French authorities for several years for his alleged role in illicit weapons sales to Angola.
In March, officials in France opened a money laundering inquiry into Mitterrand’s role at the plant, which he partly owned. The investigating magistrate, Philippe Courroye, is the same one studying the illicit weapons sales.
Officials have said they are looking into whether the cash to fund the plant came from illicit commissions allegedly given to Mitterrand by billionaire businessman Pierre Falcone, the central figure in the arms trafficking investigation.
That investigation centres on the sale of £300 million in illegal arms to Angola. Mitterrand is alleged to have received more than £1million between 1993 and 1998 – in the midst of Angola’s civil war – from Falcone, who allegedly acted as a weapons purchaser for the Angolan armed forces.
Mitterrand has denied any illegal role in the affair.
- PA News
publicado por MP às 23:27
